Improvement in preserving wooden piles and timber



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. OULVER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PFlESERVING WOODEN PILES AND TIMBER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,990, dated October 9, 1877; application filed April 9, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. CULVER, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented a novel Means for Preserving Piles and Timber; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description. thereof.

My invention relates to a novel means for preserving timber and piles; and it is more especially intended for the purpose of preserving the timber from the ravages of the tercdo and other destructive marine agencies.

It consists in wrapping or otherwise coating; the timber to be preserved with burlaps, or other kindred fibrous material, which has been saturated with asphaltiun, coal-tar, petroleum, or other bituminous or preservative material, the fiber serving as a bond to retain the preservative in place.

It has been noticed that as long as the bark remains upon a pile it will not usually be attached by the tcreclo but the action of the water, collision of vessels, &c., and various other agencies serve to abrade the pile sooner or later, after which it is immediately attacked.

My invention and process not only preserves the pile by the quality of the material employed, but it also serves as a wrapping, whichwill prevent the bark from being easily rubbed off, so that, in the case of any timber with the bark on, it acts as a double preservative.

I have foimd, in the course of my experiments, that when the preservative is simply applied to the outer surface of the pile or timber it will peel off as soon as water has permeated the timber, and it is therefore of but little use, while the processes of permeating the whole timber with the preservatives heretofore used is too expensive for common use. I therefore take the pile or timber A, as per accompanying drawing, Figures 1 and 2, and wrap it with burlaps, or other suitable fibrous material, B. This material may be very well applied by saturating it in the hot bituminous compound, and then, having nailed one end fast to the pile at a point above or below the intended water-line, the material is wound around the pile, preferably in a spiral direction, until it is covered to a point as far along the pile as may be desired.

This method I prefer because the edges may be made to overlap, and the bond is better. It is also easier to secure it effectually, either by nailing the material at intervals or simply at the ends.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The process herein described for preserving piles and other timber, consisting in covering 0r inclosing the same with an envelope of burlaps, or other kindred fibrous or woven material, wound in a spiral manner, and saturated with asphaltum or a bituminous or other preservative substance, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

JOHN P. CULVER.

Witnesses Gno. H. STRONG, FRANK A. BROOKS. 

